Movable platform for excavating-machines, &amp;c.



100.785,00?. f l PATBNTED MA'R."14,1905.

F. P., J. D. -& A.. L. LEACH.

MOVABLE PLATFORM FOR EXGAVATING MACHINES, &o.

' APPLIUATION- FILED 00T.10. 1004. A

' z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MeaeZ/f,

Witness@ y Inven-tors.

x l I ttomegs UNiTnn STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT GFFICE.

FRANK P. LEACH, JOSEPH D. LEACH, AND ARTHUR L. LEACH, OF GOLDENGATE, ILLINOIS.

IVIOVABLE PLATFORM FOR EXCAVATING-IVIACHINES, 61.0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,007, dated March 14, 195.

Application lefl October l0. 1904. Serial No. 227,909.

T0 a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK P. LEACH, J osEPH D. LnAoI-I, and ARTHUR L. LEAoH, citizens of the United States, residing at Goldengate, in the county of Wayne and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Movable Platform for Excavating-Machines, Snc., of which the'following is a speciication.

This invention relates to ditching, dredging, and excavating machines; and its object is to enable machines of this class to be easily shifted and removed from one place to another as the work engaged in progresses.

Specifically, the invention consists in an improved movable platform or supporting device for machines of the class referred to, the same being provided with an endless chain of cross-bars constituting anchors adapted to engage the ground at a plurality of points, so that when the position of the machine is to be shifted during the progress of the work the shifting or change of position may be accomplished by moving the frame with relation to the endless anchoring-chain, and causing the frame, `with the machinery supported thereon, to move forwardly upon the anchors placed or deposited in front thereof from the upper lead of the anchoring' device, while the lower lead of the latter is drawn upwardly and forwardly upon the part of the frame provided for its reception.

The invention further consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and-preferred form of embodiment of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that the right is reserved to any changes, alterations, and modifications which come fairly within the scope of the invention and which maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the same.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the invention in connection with the supporting-frame of a dredging or excavating machine and as much of the latter as is necessary to enable the invention to be readily understood. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a carriage constituting a stationary anchor by the assistance of whichthe device is operated for the purpose of shifting the portion 0f the frame supported thereon.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similar characters of reference.

The frame of this device, which is generally designated F, includes in its construction a plurality of longitudinally-disposed bottom members l l, of which in the accompanying drawings three havebeen shown, said members being disposed parallel to each other. The bottom members each support a plurality of blocks 2 2, arranged in alinement with each other, and the said blocks support transverse members 3. This construction is for the purpose of affording spaces between the individual blocks 2 2, supported upon-the planks l l, and it would .be within the scope of the invention to form each ofthe transverse members 3 integral with the underlying blocks 2 2, if so desired. l

Mounted longitudinally upon the transverse members 3 are sills 4 4E, supporting transverse spacing members or joists 5 5, upon which the flooring 7 is laid. At the edges of the iiooring flange members 6 6 are provided. The iiooring 7 is mainly for the purpose of supporting the upper lead of the endless anchoring device to be 'hereinafter described.` At the front end of the frame the longitudinal bottom members l 1 have upward extensions, and the several frame members are so constructed as to form a rounded contact-surface, over which the endless anchoring device to be presently described may readily slide without undue friction resistance.

The endless anchoring device is composed of a plurality of planks or members, each constituting an anchor 9, said anchors being connected near their ends in any suitable manner by means of endless chains, cables, or other vwardly and forwardlyover the latter.

well-known mechanical means, as 10 10. The anchors are of a length to enable them to fit between the flanges 6 6 of the frame, and a suiiicient number of said anchors is employed to extend entirely around the framelongitudinally of the latter, sufficient slack being left at the rear end to enable the device to be conveniently manipulated.

It will be understood that when the machine or device isl stationary the frame F will be entirely supported upon the anchors 9,which at the time constitute the lower lead of the endless anchoring device. These anchors will under the superimposed weight be caused to sink into and to firmly engage the ground and o will thus serve to steady the device and to maintain it securely in the position in which it has been placed. For the purpose of moving the device it is only necessary to impart forward motion to the frame,whereby the anchors of the upper lead of the endless anchoring device will be laid in front of the frame to form a bed upon which the frame may slide or travel in a forward direction, the anchors of the lower lead being taken up at the rear end of the frame and car-ried up- To accomplish this result, the carriage C is provided, including longitudinal members 11, which are disposed between the longitudinal bottom members 1 l of the frame. The members 11 are provided at their front and rear ends with hooks l2, adapted to engage against the front edges of anchors 9, constituting part of the lower lead of the endless anchoringdevice. The members 11 are provided near their rearends with spacing-blocks 13, the upper sides of which are connected,by means of braces 14, with the members 11. The braces 14 are connected by a cross-brace 15, having a rearward-extending bracket 16, carrying at its rear end a pulley 17. The crossbrace 15, it will be seen, serves to connect the hook-carrying members 11, so as to constitute a carriage the parts of which may move in unison.

Suitably secured to the frame F, as by means of an eyebolt 19, is a draft-rope 18, which is guided over the pulley 17 and thence over the pulley 20, which is likewiseconnected with the frame near one edge thereof, the eyebolt 19 to which the draft-rope is connected being secured near the opposite edge, so that the rope itselfl may pass through the interspaces between the set of blocks 2, which are disposed between the carriage C on the one side and the rope-attaching point and the pulley 2O on the other side. It will be understood that movement of the carriage is limited by the two sets of blocks 2 2, between which it is disposed, but this space will usually be ample to enable the machine to be moved or shifted the requisite distance. The free end of the draft-rope or flexible draft member 18 may be extended upwardly, as shown, and may be connected with a winding-drum or other draft means adapted -to be operated by power supplied by the motor which usually forms a part of adredging or excavating machine outlit. No limitation is, however, made as to any specific means for operating the flexible draft member and no specific-means for this purpose have been shown in the drawings.

The operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description,taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. Normally the carriage is brought forward as far as possible and the hooks 12 of the members 11 are placed in engagement with the front edges of the nearestV anchors 9, the hooks 12 being spaced apart in such a manner as to coincide with the location of the individual anchors 9, which, as is obvious, are. preferably spaced equidistantly apart. When it shall be desired to move the machine, draft is applied to the upwardly-extending end of the rope or flexible member 18. Strain will thus be exerted in a rearward direction upon the lower lead of the endless anchoring device, which will result in moving the anchors of the upper lead of said device in a forward direction and placing them in front of the frame, which will gradually slide forwardly upon said anchors.

The anchors of the lower lead of the device will be gradually elevated and caused to slide forwardly upon the iiooring 7 between the anges 6 6, as will be readily understood. When the frame and the machine supported thereon have been moved a suiicient distance, draft upon the rope 18 is ceased, and the carriage may then be moved back to its normal position ready for another change.

rlhis improved device is notonly convenient when the machine supported upon the frame Fis to be operated on dry land, but itis equally effective when it is to be operated in shallow water the depth of which is insuiiicient to iioat the machine. The anchoring devicethat is to say, the individual anchors of the bottom lead of the latter-will take firm hold of the bottom over which the frame supporting the machine may thus be conveniently moved wheneverit shall be desired to change its position.

It has been customary in moving machines of this kind to provide some fixed anchoring device, usually consisting of a tree or stump when available or of a stake driven securely into the ground, and then hitching to such stationary anchor and dragging the machine by means of a winding drum and chain or other mechanical means in the direction of such stationary anchor. This mode of procedure is obviously inconvenient where trees or other natural anchoring devices may not be found and slow and expensive where anchoringstakes have to be driven into the ground. By

this invention these objections are overcome and the machine 1s capable of being moved at the manufacture of this device.

any time in the desired direction by simply shifting the position of the endless anchoring device in the manner described.

Itis to be distinctly understood that no limitation is made as to the material employed in The frame F or any parts of said frame as well as the anchors may be constructed either of woodI or of metal or of any desired combination of materials. It is also to be understood that no limitation is made with regard to the proportion or exact manner of 'assemblage of the parts, also that while the anchors 9 have been shown as planks or boards rectangular in crosssection they may be of any other suitable form without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. The combination with a movable frame having longitudinal bottom planks and longitudinal top flanges, of an endless anchoring device comprising a plurality of transverse members constituting anchors and flexible connecting means for the same, a device having hook members engaging the anchors of the lower lead of said anchoring device, and draft means upon the frame connected with said device.

2. The combination with a movable frame having longitudinal bottom members and longitudinal top anges spaced apart, of an endless anchoring device including a plurality of transverse members constituting anchors and iiexible connecting means for the same, said frame being supported upon the lower lead of said anchoring device, the upper lead of which is supported between the top sills, and a carriage or traveler slidable longitudinally with relation to the frame and having hook. members engaging individual anchors of the endless anchoring device, and means upon the movable frame for exerting draft upon said carriage or traveler.

3. A movable frame including longitudinal bottom members, blocks supported upon the same, transverse members connecting said blocks and a superstructure including a pair of longitudinal iianges, in combination with an endless anchoring' device comprising transverse members constituting anchors and fiexible connecting means for the same, the lower lead of said anchoring device extending under the movable frame, and an upper lead of said anchoring device being disposed between the longitudinal sills, and means, including a carl riage or traveler for operating the said'anchoring device to shift the position of the movable frame.

4. A machine-supporting frame, an endless anchoring device extending around said frame and comprising a plurality of anchoring members, and exible means connecting said members, a longitudinally-movable carriage having means to engage individual anchors of the anchoring device, said carriage being provided with a bracket and a pulley carried by said bracket, a pulley having a fixed point of attachment to the frame, and a iiexible member having a fixed point of attachment to the frame and guided over the pulley connected with the carriage and thence over the fixed pulley.

5. A movable frame including longitudinal bottom members constituting runners, longitudinal upwardly extending fianges and a flooring between said flanges, in combination with an endless anchoring device comprising a plurality of transverse members constituting anchors and iiexible connecting means for said anchors, the lower lead of said anchoring device supporting the bottom members, the runners of the movable frame and the upper lead of said anchoring device being supported upon the flooring between the top sills of the frame, a movable carriage having members slidable between the runners of the frame and provided with means engaging individual anchors of the endless anchoring device, and means for applyingdraft to said carriage.

6. The combination of a supporting-frame, an endless anchoring device surrounding said frame in the direction of its length, a traveler engaging said anchoring device, and suitablyguided means for applying positive draft from a fixed point upon the frame to said traveler to thereby shift the position of the frame.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto aiiixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK P. LEACH. JOSEPH D. LEAGH.

ARTHUR L. LEACH. Witnesses:

MILTON J. BEVERLY, ALBERT AI'ILIN. 

